The Illinois Department of Revenue appears to be closely eyeing several Peoria-area Shell gas stations.
Police tape blocked off access to the gas station at 1106 W. Main St. in Peoria on Wednesday morning. Unmarked law enforcement vehicles were parked near the business with emergency lights switched on. Social media reports indicate similar tape and law enforcement presence at other area Shell stations.
The gas stations share a common owner: Axis Investments, LLC of Louisville, Ky. Axis Investments also owns the gas stations at 9109 N. Allen, 710 W. Detweiller, 4709 N. Sterling, 4300 N. Knoxville, 1900 N. Knoxville, and 1100 N. Main in East Peoria.
Peoria police deferred all comment requests to the Illinois Department of Revenue.
"Our Bureau of Criminal Investigations conducts investigations of potential violations of the Illinois tax laws and related offenses and, if warranted, refers the matter for criminal prosecution," said IDOR spokesperson Maura Kownacki in a statement. "The Illinois Department of Revenue cannot comment on the status of ongoing investigations, however, or even acknowledge their existence due to confidentiality provisions in the tax laws.”
